Ethnicity and outcome of psychosis.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: An excess of psychotic illness in Black people has been found in cross-sectional studies. Little is known about the outcome of psychosis in different ethnic groups in the UK. AIMS: To compare the incidence, nature and long-term outcome of psychosis in different ethnic groups. METHOD: A five-year, prospective study of an epidemiological cohort of people with a first contact for psychosis. RESULTS: Age-standardised incidence rates for schizophrenia and non-affective psychosis were higher for Black and Asian people than Whites. Stability of diagnosis and course of illness were similar in all ethnic groups. During the fifth year, Black people were more likely than others to be detained, brought to hospital by the police and given emergency injections. CONCLUSIONS: The nature and outcome of psychotic illness is similar in all ethnic groups but Black people experience more adverse contacts with services later in the course of illness.

Author information

Author/s: Goater, N (N); King, M (M); Cole, E (E); Leavey, G (G); Johnson-Sabine, E (E); Blizard, R (R); Hoar, A (A);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science (Br J Psychiatry), published in ENGLAND. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1999-Jul; vol 175 (issue ) : pp 34-42

Dates: Created 2000/01/24; Completed 2000/01/24; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 10621766, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Br J Psychiatry. 1999 Nov;175:492. (PMID: 10789287)

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.